# A One-Week 'Trial' Is Unpaid Work With Extra Steps

**[TRUE STORY]** — by Candidate · via r/recruitinghell / LinkedIn

A company pitched the final step of its process as a "generous opportunity": a full-time, in-office, one-week trial - unpaid. The candidate declined in a single clean paragraph, pointing out that a week of employee-level work in the office is "not a trial but unpaid labour" and that she wouldn't proceed on those terms. A senior sales executive reshared the exchange on LinkedIn, where 600-plus comments lined up behind her.

*Source: [r/recruitinghell · 600+ comments · Jun 2026](https://scoop.upworthy.com/candidate-email-shuts-down-company-demanding-trial-work-without-pay-fp-ex2)*
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